15 September,2009 08:17 AM IST | | Kaumudi Gurjar
Four cops under scanner for taking bribe to hush up case involving hunting, eating of peahen by 7 men from affluent families
Four city policemen landed themselves in a soup after they allegedly accepted a bribe to hush up the case involving the hunting of a peahen by seven people, including a corporator's son, Chetan Nimhan, and national shooting champion Shehzad Mirza at Kondhavale village near Paud. They have also been accused of eating the bird and Pratap Dighavkar, superintendent of police (Pune rural) has ordered an inquiry into the case.
"The report would be ready in two days. I cannot divulge details of whether the policemen accepted the bribe or not," said Shrikrishna Kokate, deputy superintendent of police (Pune rural), who is conducting the inquiry.
In custody
Meanwhile, the seven suspects who were arrested by the forest department on Saturday have been sent to the department's custody till Monday.
Apart from Nimhan and Mirza, Avinash Ghotkule (22), a resident of Pashan Chowk, Shyam Chavan (26), a resident of Kondhawale, Vitthal Chive (34), a resident of Pashan, Balu Munjalkar (28), a resident of Admanewada, Pashan Chowk and Kunal Kamble (22), a resident of Pashan have been arrested in connection with the case.
Madhukar Telang, range forest officer of Paud said, "We have seized a Scorpio car and 0.22 bore gun from the accused."
The incident came to light when, acting on the tip off by villagers, forest and rural police officials conducted search operations to trace the remains of the birds on the hill near Kondhavale village. They found feathers and utensils, which were used to cook the peahen.
Peacock and peahen are listed as a schedule (I) birds, which makes it an offence to kill them.
According to sources, all the seven belong to affluent families. The counsel of the forest department, Abhijit Sakurkar, said, "We need to find out where the actual crime was committed."
